If I Could Change The World...

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
 What an inspiring quote! I often wonder with a world in such turmoil how could one person's thoughts and actions POSSIBLY change it? Many have compared it to a single drop of rain which seems powerless on it's own, dripping into a pond creating waves undulating out from the centre point. Or the fluttering of a butterfly's wings on one side of the world creating a hurricane on the opposite side of the earth.
Just as those metaphors, one single thought can start a ripple effect spreading to the ends of the universe!
I believe massage therapy can help to create a change for the better in this world. My motto I have used for the past two years has been "Promoting a peaceful, understanding world through the power of touch and education."
You may wonder how I could possibly think this crazy idea and use this preposterous motto! So I'll try and give you an understanding of what is inside this peace-passionate brain of mine. Think of life in general these days. We see a lot of rushing around, stressful jobs, disease and injury causing pain (that could, by the way, be directly related to our rushing & stress). What kinds of personalities, attitudes and tendencies are we seeing more of since the industrial revolution came to be back in the early 1900's, and the development of convenience items/foods/etc, in the latter part of that century. We tend to see that stress, anger, pain, frustration (for the need for more convenience), fast driving...you get the idea; a world that is "GO! GO! GO!"
 We are creating a world in which we don't stop and take a breath. We don't stop to smell the roses. We just don't stop!
 Instead of peaceful, we are fighting!
 What's more, we are teaching our children to be the same way. Overworked and underpaid parents come home to only be too tired to spend quality time with the children who are just yearning for their Mom or Dad's attention! Children then become frustrated, upset, and angry not knowing how to handle it properly because they see their parents are feeling the same way and also most likely not dealing with it in a healthy way either. In a past blog I wrote about how a study was done to find out how much undivided attention North Americans give to their children. I'll refresh your memory...2 MINUTES per WEEK! It's a far cry from what it used to be only 100 years ago.
Children are now finding other ways to get their parents attention, by being aggressive, misbehaving or not doing as they should.  This then leads to cases of bullying at school.  How sad!
Imagine what the world will be like in 100 years. We might become an emotionally unattached species that cares not about what harm we are doing to others. Is that the kind of future you want for your grandchildren? Great-grandchildren? It's not my idea of a healthy society, that's for sure!
 "So what?" you say! "What could I possibly do?"
 Get a massage. Take time for yourself. Relax! Spread the word! 
"What can massage do for me?" you ask. "Isn't that just a spa treatment?"
 Not at all! Though massage does help to relax your mind and body, it can be incredibly beneficial to your immune, circulatory, nervous, digestive and integumentary (skin) systems. Therefore it is actually a MEDICAL treatment! So get the idea of massage being "just a treat only for those who are spoiled enough to do it for themselves" out of your head.
 People who do get it regularly know that massage therapy helps to improve wellbeing and prevent injury! It increases "feel good" endorphins that will help to calm your weary soul. It helps to decrease pain, headaches and muscle spasms. Massage also helps to decrease sympathetic nervous system (SNS) firing. If you understand your anatomy, you'll know that the SNS is responsible for the "fight or flight" response...which we all seem to be in a constant state of these days...and by the way was only meant to save our life, not destroy it.
If you're dealing with stress better and preventing your body from being in a state of pain, don't you think you would function better? Or better yet, have more of an ability to stop, take a breath and slow down? I would imagine those rushed parents who have massage at least once per month just might be more in tune with the fact that their children too are feeling stress and help them to deal with it better by spending more than 2 minutes a week of undivided attention on them.
In turn, teach your children about the wonderful benefits of massage. Introduce them to massage therapy early by contacting your local MT to find out if they also treat children. The earlier they realize their bodies are their vehicles and need a tune-up regularly, the more likely they are to continue this into their adulthood.    
Imagine a world in which people of all walks of life receive non-judgemental, educated, safe and comfortable healing touch. I believe that we just might become a kinder society due to the fact that stress would be reduced. I also believe we'd become a healthier society that is more in tune with our body's needs.
Take care of yourself, to change the world. In order for change to come about, it must first come from within. Be that raindrop that starts a wave of a healthy minded, peaceful society.

Carrie Creamer RMT is located in Orillia, ON and specializes in pregnancy, infant and child massage with extensive experience in MVA, work and sports related injuries. Carrie hopes to change the world, one massage at a time.